Director, Litigation

Location(s): 

Toledo, OH, US, 43659-0001

Function:  Legal
Audience:  Experienced Professional
Work Arrangement:  Hybrid
Requisition ID:  64073

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Director, Litigation provides support to all Owens Corning businesses and the corporate functions. This position acts as a key partner to the business and corporate finance teams, providing valuable guidance on pre-litigation dispute resolution, litigation strategy, expense forecasting and contingent liability reserves. The Director, Litigation has oversight and monitoring accountability for all litigation globally. The Director, Litigation is responsible for managing the company’s litigation through internal and external resources, exercising sound judgment, communicating timely to all necessary stakeholders, and providing strategic advice that positions the company to achieve the best possible result in the resolution of all disputes.

 

Reports to:    VP & Asst. General Counsel

Span of ControlA small team of direct reports

 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Operate a litigation management framework that enables enterprise success

  • Understand our businesses, our products and our people, including internal structures, business strategies, and controls processes to ensure that all guidance is provided within an appropriate context
  • Proactively anticipate legal challenges, opportunities, and trends in the litigation landscape
  • Systematically communicate legal issues and strategies to leaders in a timely and effective way and advise business leaders on risk management strategies
  • Facilitate teamwork across all functions and business groups to maximize dispute resolution outcomes
  • Effectively maximize the use of digital tools for matter management and financial management of active litigation matters
  • Actively manage the litigation spend through effective budgeting and cost management.
  • Lead with a systematic approach the legal review of all global contingent liability reserves

 

Be a trusted legal advisor and business partner

  • Advise and counsel business partners and law department colleagues on a broad spectrum of pre-litigation disputes and litigation matters, including (but not limited to): products liability, general liability, commercial disputes, construction disputes, insurance coverage and recovery, product warranties and intellectual property
  • Select and manage outside counsel on litigation matters, ensuring they develop and execute on strategies needed for OC success. This includes:
    • Conducting factual investigations and witness interviews
    • Overseeing discovery coordination and production,
    • Preparing for and representing the Company at legal proceedings
    • Advising Company management and stakeholders as to the anticipated legal risk and other consequences of instituting, prosecuting and defending lawsuits
    • Negotiating case settlements
  • Oversee investigation and response to claims, demand letters, subpoenas, administrative complaints, audits, and other inquiries that may arise from time to time
  • Perform legal research and legal analysis, advise business partners on recommended course of action and risks to Owens Corning
  • Escalate and communicate legal issues in a timely and effective way
  • Assist in or lead internal investigations in coordination with the Compliance function

 

Demonstrate an enterprise focus and leadership skills

  • Develop strong relationships with business partners, see issues through their lens
  • Approach issues with an enterprise first perspective that ensures we always strive to serve the company’s needs
  • Collaborate effectively within and beyond the law department to drive creative solutions
  • Manage projects with a team oriented approach
  • Maintain a no surprises mindset on outside counsel legal spend, track spend to budget
  • Develop a reputation as being uniquely skilled at working with partners at all levels and building capabilities across the organization

 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Minimum of 10 to 12 years of litigation experience preferably in a law firm followed by in-house experience
  • Juris Doctorate and Bar Membership in at least one state required 

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

  • Strategic Mindset.  Demonstrates the ability to identify and respond to trends, and to develop sustainable improvements and solutions.  
  • Compliance Minded. Demonstrates the ability identify compliance gaps and to challenge at all levels when faced with possible violation of policy or the law.
  • Strong Organizational Skills.  Demonstrates the ability to meet deadlines and communicate issues as they arise, with specificity and determine actions necessary for a timely remedy of issues.
  • Communication.  Clearly conveys relevant information and ideas. Adjusts approach to capture audience attention and ensures there is an understanding of the message.  Seeks to understand others through active listening.
  • Diversity/Cultural Competence.  Understands, communicates with, and effectively interacts with people across the organization. Is self-aware and values the differences in others. Effectively achieves business results working across and with diverse teams.
  • Results Oriented.  Energetic, resourceful, with strong service orientation and positive can-do attitude.  Fully committed to the job and to deliver outstanding work.  Never satisfied with status-quo, continually striving for excellence. 
  • Change Agent.  Comfortable planning for the future, while managing day-to-day legal matters.  Able to anticipate risks and propose practical plans to mitigate them.  Appreciates impact of the Owens Corning Legal Department and how the department is an integral part of the company’s business strategy.
  • Adaptability.  Able to improvise, adapt and overcome when faced with problems. Ability to respond quickly to the demands of the moment. 
  • Accountability.  Knows what needs to be done and gets it done.  Willingly takes responsibility for the organization; unafraid of owning the results, actions and decisions of self or organization.
  • Learner Mindset.  Committed to continuing education and skill sharpening in employment and labor law.
  • Judgment and Decision Making.  Recognizes issues, problems or opportunities and determines whether action is needed. Choose appropriate action by formulating clear decision criteria and evaluates options by considering implications and consequences.  Implements decisions or initiates action within a reasonable time. Escalates and informs as appropriate. 

 

About Owens Corning

Masonite is now proudly part of Owens Corning. Owens Corning is a global building and construction materials leader committed to building a sustainable future through material innovation. Our four integrated businesses – Roofing, Insulation, Doors, and Composites – provide durable, sustainable, energy-efficient solutions that leverage our unique material science, manufacturing, and market knowledge to help our customers win and grow. We are global in scope, human in scale with more than 25,000 employees in 31 countries dedicated to generating value for our customers and shareholders, and making a difference in the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1938 and based in Toledo, Ohio, USA, Owens Corning posted 2023 sales of $9.7 billion. For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com.

Owens Corning is an equal opportunity employer.